Sweep! Warriors finish off Cavs for back-to-back...

Stephen Curry (30) walks off the arena floor with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, ... more

Stephen Curry (30) walks off the arena floor with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Friday, June 8, 2018. The Warriors won 108-85 to win the the 2018 NBA Championship. less

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

2 of 49

The Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant holds up a Chronicle front page after their 108 to 85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland ... more

The Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant holds up a Chronicle front page after their 108 to 85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

3 of 49

Golden State Warriors fans celebrate their team's victory in the NBA Finals at 14th and Broadway in Downtown Oakland, Calif. on Friday, June 8, 2018.

Photo: Douglas Zimmerman / Douglas Zimmerman

4 of 49

Fans party outside the Oracle Arena following the NBA Finals during a Golden State Warriors watch party, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals ... more

Fans party outside the Oracle Arena following the NBA Finals during a Golden State Warriors watch party, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. less

Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

5 of 49

The Golden State Warriors celebrate after game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Golden State ... more

The Golden State Warriors celebrate after game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 108 to 85 to win the NBA Finals. less

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

6 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant holds the the Larry OBrien NBA Championship Trophy and The Bill Russell MVP Award after game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland ... more

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant holds the the Larry OBrien NBA Championship Trophy and The Bill Russell MVP Award after game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

7 of 49

Kevin Durant waves to fans as Stephen Curry holds the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy. Durant had a triple-double then collected the Finals MVP award for the second straight year.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

8 of 49

The Warriors celebrate with champagne after they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Friday, June 8, 2018. The Warriors won 108-85 to win ... more

The Warriors celebrate with champagne after they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Friday, June 8, 2018. The Warriors won 108-85 to win the the 2018 NBA Championship. less

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

9 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant high fives with Draymond Green in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, ... more

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant high fives with Draymond Green in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

10 of 49

Golden State Warriors' JaVale McGee goes up for a reverse layup agaisnt Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland ... more

Golden State Warriors' JaVale McGee goes up for a reverse layup agaisnt Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

11 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry gets a head pat from Kevin Durant in the third quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on ... more

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry gets a head pat from Kevin Durant in the third quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

12 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at ... more

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

13 of 49

Fans cheer during a Golden State Warriors watch party at Oracle Arena, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland ... more

Fans cheer during a Golden State Warriors watch party at Oracle Arena, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. less

Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

14 of 49

Ralph Walker pours champagne on Stephen Curry in the locker room after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on ... more

Ralph Walker pours champagne on Stephen Curry in the locker room after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Friday, June 8, 2018. The Warriors won 108-85 to win the the 2018 NBA Championship. less

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

15 of 49

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James reacts to a call in the second quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in ... more

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James reacts to a call in the second quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

16 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant blocks a Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James shot in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle ... more

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant blocks a Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James shot in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

17 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Nick Young reacts after hitting a three-pointer in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on ... more

Golden State Warriors' Nick Young reacts after hitting a three-pointer in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

18 of 49

Fans react in the first quarter during a Golden State Warriors watch party at Oracle Arena, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the ... more

Fans react in the first quarter during a Golden State Warriors watch party at Oracle Arena, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. less

Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

19 of 49

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James shoots over Golden State Warriors' Nick Young during the first half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Photo: Tony Dejak, Associated Press

20 of 49

Shaun Livingston #34 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, ... more

Shaun Livingston #34 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

21 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry reacts in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in ... more

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry reacts in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

22 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry reacts to a call during the first half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Photo: Tony Dejak, Associated Press

23 of 49

Golden State Warriors' JaVale McGee is defended by Cleveland Cavaliers' George Hill in the first half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Photo: Tony Dejak, Associated Press

24 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Andre Iguodala is defended by Cleveland Cavaliers' Rodney Hood during the first half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Photo: Tony Dejak, Associated Press

25 of 49

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers kneels after a play as Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on ... more

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers kneels after a play as Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Justin K. Aller, Getty Images

26 of 49

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the bakset against Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June ... more

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the bakset against Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Justin K. Aller, Getty Images

27 of 49

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the bakset against Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June ... more

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the bakset against Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Justin K. Aller, Getty Images

28 of 49

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball in the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, ... more

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball in the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Justin K. Aller, Getty Images

29 of 49

Golden State Warriors' JaVale McGee goes up for a reverse layup agaisnt Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland ... more

Golden State Warriors' JaVale McGee goes up for a reverse layup agaisnt Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

30 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant goes to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James during the first half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony ... more

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant goes to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James during the first half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) less

Photo: Tony Dejak, Associated Press

31 of 49

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James questions a call during the first half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Photo: Carlos Osorio, Associated Press

32 of 49

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket against Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June ... more

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket against Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

33 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green is defended by Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson in the first half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Photo: Tony Dejak, Associated Press

34 of 49

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James recovers a shot attempt blocked by Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland ... more

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James recovers a shot attempt blocked by Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

35 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant is guarded by Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle ... more

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant is guarded by Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

36 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson double-team Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland ... more

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson double-team Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

37 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry defends against Cleveland Cavaliers' JR Smith in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle ... more

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry defends against Cleveland Cavaliers' JR Smith in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

38 of 49

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry reacts in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in ... more

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry reacts in the first quarter during game 4 of The NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena on Friday, June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. less

Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

39 of 49

Tavis Ino of Emeryville sprays champagne while celebrating with fellow Golden State Warriors fans their team's victory in the NBA Finals at 14th and Broadway in Downtown Oakland, Calif. on Friday, June 8, 2018.

Photo: Douglas Zimmerman / Douglas Zimmerman

40 of 49

Fans party outside the Oracle Arena following the NBA Finals during a Golden State Warriors watch party, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals ... more

Fans party outside the Oracle Arena following the NBA Finals during a Golden State Warriors watch party, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. less

Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

41 of 49

GS Breakers sweep the floor after the end of the NBA Finals during a Golden State Warriors watch party at Oracle Arena, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the ... more

GS Breakers sweep the floor after the end of the NBA Finals during a Golden State Warriors watch party at Oracle Arena, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. less

Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

42 of 49

Sisters (left to right) Madison Hung-Haas and Poinciana Hung-Haas,
Oakland residents known as the Dribbling Siblings, show off their
dribbling skills while their father Jengiz Haas carries a broom to ... more

Sisters (left to right) Madison Hung-Haas and Poinciana Hung-Haas,
Oakland residents known as the Dribbling Siblings, show off their
dribbling skills while their father Jengiz Haas carries a broom to
signify the Golden State Warriors four game sweep of the Cleveland
Cavaliers in the NBA Finals at 14th and Broadway in Downtown Oakland,
Calif. on Friday, June 8, 2018. less

Photo: Douglas Zimmerman

43 of 49

Fans cheer during a Golden State Warriors watch party at Oracle Arena, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland ... more

Fans cheer during a Golden State Warriors watch party at Oracle Arena, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. less

Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

44 of 49

From left: Rudy Balderramos, Rodel Calipes and Rommel Sigua cheer at the end of the game during a Golden State Warriors watch party at Oracle Arena, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on ... more

From left: Rudy Balderramos, Rodel Calipes and Rommel Sigua cheer at the end of the game during a Golden State Warriors watch party at Oracle Arena, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Visitors watched on the jumbotron Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. less

Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

45 of 49

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up before Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Photo: Justin K. Aller, Getty Images

46 of 49

Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors warms up before Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Photo: Jason Miller, Getty Images

47 of 49

Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors warms up before Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Photo: Jason Miller, Getty Images

48 of 49

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors warms up before Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Photo: Jason Miller, Getty Images

49 of 49

Tavis Ino of Emeryville sprays champagne while celebrating with fellow Golden State Warriors fans their team's victory in the NBA Finals at 14th and Broadway in Downtown Oakland, Calif. on Friday, June 8, 2018.

Photo: Douglas Zimmerman / Douglas Zimmerman

CLEVELAND — Over the past eight months, as they toiled through frequent lapses in focus and urgency, the Warriors repeated three words: “We’ll be fine.”

Though the talent divide separating it from the rest of the league has tightened, Golden State knows that its biggest opponent is itself. In capping their NBA Finals sweep of the Cavaliers with a 108-85 win in Game 4 on Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena, the Warriors put it all together for four quarters, riding the same joy that made them the class of the league to their second straight championship and their third in four years.

Before hundreds of empty maroon seats, with no gold confetti fluttering from the ceiling at the final buzzer, Golden State vaulted into rarefied territory. Stephen Curry’s Warriors joined Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics (1957-66) as the only teams to have reached at least four consecutive Finals and won more than two championships. In addition to being the first franchise since Phil Jackson’s Lakers (2000-02) to win three championships in a four-year span, Golden State is just the ninth team in NBA history to achieve a Finals sweep.

By making such quick work of LeBron James and Cleveland, Golden State silenced anyone who had questioned its ability to respond when it counted most. All the concerns about the Warriors’ uneven play hardly matter now that Golden State has put the last dab of polish on its dynastic status.

“We just wanted to win, and however it came, we were excited about it,” Finals MVP Kevin Durant said. “But to win in a sweep feels pretty good.”

Instead of succumbing to an all-too-familiar emotional letdown in the face of a 3-0 series lead, the Warriors led nearly wire-to-wire in Game 4. They played stifling defense, made the extra pass and outscored Cleveland 25-13 in the third quarter to leave no doubt. James, who enters unrestricted free agency in July, checked out with 4:03 left to “M-V-P!” chants.

In what was probably his final series with the Cavaliers, James was borderline superhuman, averaging 34 points, 10 assists and 8.5 rebounds. It didn’t matter. Thanks to four All-Stars in their prime atop a deep roster, the Warriors did what the pundits had expected all along.

In the visitors’ locker room, as Champagne corks popped and cigars were lit, players spoke about a season marked by adversity. This 2017-18 Larry O’Brien trophy holds special significance because of all that the Warriors had to overcome to reach this point.

Each season has a distinct vibe, a feeling that permeates the locker room and spills onto the court.

In 2014-15, Steve Kerr’s first at the helm, the Warriors were relative upstarts who rode their joyful, egalitarian brand of basketball to the franchise’s first NBA title in 40 years. The following season, motivated by the urge to silence anyone who doubted that surprising run, Golden State won an NBA-record 73 regular-season games before it squandered a 3-1 series lead against the Cavaliers and watched James celebrate a championship at Oracle Arena.

Last season, after stunning the league with the addition of Durant, the Warriors again captured the NBA’s best regular-season record, bulldozed through the playoffs with a 16-1 mark, and needed only five games to get Finals redemption against Cleveland.

The league-wide consensus was that 2017-18 would provide similar dominance. With 12 players returning, Golden State figured only to get better, right? But even in the preseason, as Las Vegas anointed them the biggest championship favorites in NBA history, Kerr knew that challenges loomed.

Playing deep into June for three straight years took a mental toll on the Warriors. As Golden State slogged through an underwhelming 58-win season, it struggled to play with intensity, discipline and focus.

It didn’t help that the Warriors endured a slew of injuries to core players, most notably Curry. The Warriors’ chronic inconsistency forced Kerr to get creative.

Unable to play up to their immense potential, the Warriors couldn’t catch Houston and settled for the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed.

The Warriors ratcheted up the intensity in the playoffs, needing only five games to get by a Kawhi Leonard-less Spurs team in the first round before Curry returned for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against New Orleans, which Golden State also dispatched in five games.

It took a team as elite as the Rockets to puncture Golden State’s air of invincibility. With its season hanging in the balance, Golden State had to storm back from double-digit halftime holes in Games 6 and 7 to secure a fourth straight date with Cleveland in the Finals.

In the Finals, Golden State faced a Cavaliers team that was the most flawed of the four it has seen at the sport’s summit. Still, James — at age 33, somehow at the peak of his powers — was enough to make the biggest of mismatches intriguing. If not for J.R. Smith’s mental blunder late in regulation of Game 1, or Durant’s 43-point masterpiece in Game 3, Cleveland could have entered Game 4 with a 2-1 lead.

Now, as the Cavaliers await James’ free-agency decision, the Warriors intend to savor their hardest-earned championship of the Kerr era. They may have said that they would be fine, but they didn’t necessarily always believe it.

Connor Letourneau moved to the Golden State Warriors beat in September 2016 after a year covering Cal. Previously, he spent two years covering the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian. Letourneau is a University of Maryland alum who has interned for The Baltimore Sun and blogged for The New York Times. A Portland, Ore., native, he is interested in telling the stories that extend beyond the field or court.